Home Theater Direct owner manual Level Three In-Wall Speakers, Model HTD-R3S

Level THREE In-Wall Speakers Owner’s Manual

Model: HTD-R3S

Welcome to the HTD family of satisfied customers. We thank you for giving us the chance to win your business. To ensure you get the most out of your new speakers, please take a moment to read this manual before you get started. Should you lose this manual, you can always download or print a copy for free from our website.

HTD Level THREE In-Wall Speakers are designed to accurately reproduce soundtracks from both music and video sources, including today’s demanding digital signals. Mounted flush to the wall or ceiling, in-wall speakers are ideal for many applications where traditional speakers would be impractical or impossible. They are especially suited for distributing sound throughout a home and can also be used to enhance surround sound systems.

Please read the following tips before installing your in-wall / in-ceiling speakers:

All of our in-wall speakers can be mounted in a wall or ceiling.

All in-wall speakers will sound tinny until positioned inside the wall. It is the wall and air trapped behind the speaker that create the baffle that allows the full frequency range to be reproduced smoothly and efficiently. If you are mounting your speakers into a wall that has a large amount of open space behind it (e.g. an open attic), you may get better results from your speaker by building a box behind it that traps approximately one cubic feet of air. Adding damping material or insulation inside this box will also help (just make sure this insulation does not interfere with the movement of the driver as this can cause a buzzing sound, and over time can damage the speaker).

The grilles are designed for a very tight press fit. In some models, we provide a small amount of putty that can be applied for extra piece of mind for ceiling installations, but this putty is rarely necessary. A tight fit will ensure that the speaker grille does not vibrate or fall out during operation.

If you decide to paint your in-wall speakers, be careful not to apply paint to the rim of the grille and the inside rim of the speaker frame. Too much paint can make installing the grille, which is already designed for a tight fit, very difficult.

Your in-wall speakers have come packaged with the grille already attached. To remove the grille prior to installation, press the ‘swing arms’ (or screws) from the back of the speaker into the grille. You may need to work your way around each swing arm in order to work the grille free.

The grilles are difficult to remove once installed so make sure everything is working and the swivel tweeter is aimed appropriately before installing. If you do need to remove the grille after installation, the best method is to thread a paper clip through the grille near the grille’s edge, and slowly work the grille out with a pair of pliers.

If you have any questions, we can be reached at info@hometheaterdirect.com or toll free 1-866-HTD-AUDIO (483-2834).

Speaker Placement

Once installed, in-wall speakers are not easily moved or repositioned. Take a little extra time to carefully consider a good speaker location before you begin. As a general rule, the speakers should be mounted close to, or above, ear level and at least one-third of the distance from the corner of the room to the center of the wall or ceiling in which you will mount them. For further assistance, see our web site for speaker placement guidelines in both surround sound and whole-house applications.

Unlike traditional speakers, in-wall speakers mount flush, and most cannot be angled or aimed back into the listening area from the corner of a room. While most of the frequency range disperses quite quickly, high frequencies reproduced by the tweeter are somewhat directional. With its swivel tweeter, HTD Level three In-Wall Speakers solve this problem by allowing you to aim these high frequencies directly at the primary listening area while maintaining a flush-mount appearance.

Allow at least 1 1/2” of clearance between the cut-out and any studs or joists for the mounting hardware to work properly. A mounting depth of 4” measured from the surface of the wall is also required. The speaker location and associated mounting hardware should not conflict with any existing wires or pipes. TIP: Check for obstructions before you cut the hole. Drill a small hole in the center of the area you plan to mount the speaker. Cut a piece of coat hanger wire and bend it with a 90-degree angle. Insert the wire into the small hole and fish around to make sure that no pipes, studs, or other objects will get in the way. If you do find something, you can easily patch the small hole you drilled. Otherwise, cut the big hole with confidence!